BARRE, Vt. --
Investigators were back at the scene of the Memorial Day fire that gutted a century-old structure in the heart of Barre.
It was a fixture in a city struggling to revitalize itself, and fire officials are now calling it a case of arson.
"The building is near and dear to the City of Barre ... We put our hearts in," said Deputy Chief Joe Aldsworth of the Barre Fire Department.
Aldsworth watched as the historic building in the center of Barre roared with flames Monday afternoon, just a few hours after the city's Memorial Day celebration.
"Practically the whole town was out," said Lyn Julian, of Barre.
More than 100 firefighters battled the blaze, and beat it, before it was able to destroy the Barre landmark.
The 1910 structure -- a former bank -- caught fire around 2:30 p.m.
Investigators determined late Tuesday afternoon that the fire was intensionally set.
The building was vacant, but had been bought by Mayor Tom Lauzon, who planned to rennovate it.
Lauzon said his plans have not changed.
"I'd be lying if I said I didn't feel discouraged by it, but I had a pity party already. I gave myself a half-hour last night. Now that's done," he said.
This setback comes with Barre in the midst of a downtown revitalization. Vacancies like this one make up a noticeable portion of Main Street. But there is a major effort to change that image.
"We're doing a lot of positive things for the area. People are beginning to see and feel that," said City Manager John Craig.
The North Main Street project, Craig said, will put nearly $20 million toward repaving and beautifying the area, while preserving Barre's identity.
"Barre has a reputation around the state as a blue collar town. The granite industry has been here for 100 years or so. We sort of live and die on the granite industry," said Craig.
The Memorial Day fire was a blow to the community, but Craig said it may, in fact, have a silver lining.
"It might be a benefit to build a nicer building there," said Craig.
The investigation continues into who may have caused the fire.
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